Traction attachment for vehicle wheels



July 26, 1955 E. E. KELLY 2,714,042

TRACTION ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLE WHEELS Filed Feb. 19, 1952 sSheets-Sheet 1 Fig.4

45 Fig.2 7

Edwin E. Kelly INVENTOR.

BY amt yaw 5M July 26, 1955 E. E. KELLY TRACTION ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLEWHEELS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1952 Edwin E. Kelly INVENTOR.

BY WW 15% July 26, 1955 E. E. KELLY TRACTION ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLEWHEELS Edwin E. Kelly INVENTOR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY @uam Wynn 3m Filed Feb. 19, 1952 United StatesPatent TRACTION ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLE WHEELS Edwin E. Kelly, Maywood,Ill.

Application February 19, 1952, Serial No. 272,380

11 Claims. (Cl. 30147) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in traction devices for vehicle wheels and the primaryobject of the present invention is to provide an anti-skid attachmentfor wheels that include a plurality of sliding cleat elements which aremovable as a unit to extend radially outwardly beyond the circumferenceof a wheel.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide atraction attachment for the wheels of passenger cars or trucks and whichattachment will be mounted on the wheels by the usual wheel lugs.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tractiondevice for wheels including a manually rotatable cam member that willengage and simultaneously urge a group of cleats to ground engagingposition and mounting means for the cam member for locking the cammember against rotation with the cleats extended.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of theaforementioned character which embodies replaceable cleat elements thatmay be conveniently replaced at a minimum cost. 7

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a tractionattachment for vehicle wheels that is simple and practical inconstruction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact instructure, efficient and durable in use, inexpensive to manufacture, andotherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencesbeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of Figure l with the cover removed and withparts broken away for the convenience of explanation;

substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showingthe device mounted on a wheel;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on theplane of section line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the invention in modi- Msubstantially on the Plane of Section line of i??? portions 36 when thelugs 46 are moved out of an operaure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the cleat element inmodified form;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 7 and showing the cleatelement in further modification form;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figures 4, 7 and 8 but showing the cleatelement in still further modified form; Figure 10 is an elevational viewof the traction device in further modified form, with its cover removedand with parts shown in section;

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line 1111 of Fig ure l0;

Figure 12 is a group perspective view of another type of cleat elementused in the invention; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a cross shaped lug element that maybe employed with the cleat element of Figure 12, said cross shapedconfiguration of the lug elements may also be employed in the cleatelements of Figures 4, 7, 8 and 9.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the numeral 10 represents a circular mounting plate or baseplate to whose central portion there is fixed an attaching sleeve 12having an inturned flange 14 that is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced apertures 16 for accommodating the lugs L of avehicle wheel W, whereby the plate 10 will be supported vertically alongside the wheel and spaced from the wheel.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced radially disposed guide tubes 18are secured to the outer face of plate 10 by clamps or brackets 20. Theouter ends of the tubes 18 are closed by caps 22 that form abutments forcoil springs 24 received in the tubes.

Cleat members indicated generally at 26 are slidably carried by thetubes 18 and the plate 10. The cleat members comprise channels 28 whoseoutwardly turned ends 30 support generally indicated cleat elements 32.Plates 34 formed with the channels 28 are provided with channel shapedportions 36 which are disposed perpendicular to the tubes 18 which theyoverlie.

The cleat elements 32, as shown in Figure 4, comprise a pair ofthreadedly connected cap members 38 and 40, the members 40 beingremovably secured to the ends 30 by bolts 42. Slides 44 are received inthe cap members and support lugs 46 that project through openings 48 inthe members 38. Springs 50 in the members 40 engage and urge the slidesagainst washers 52 in the members 38 and 'the lugs 46 outwardly throughthe openings 48.

Figure 7 illustrates the cleat element 32a in slightly modified form inthat the member 40a is formed with a nipple 41 that is connected to afluid pressure means 53 for extending the lug 46a carried by slide 44afrom the member 38a, rather than the coil spring.

In Figures 8 and 9 the spring 50 of the cleat element shown in Figure 4is replaced by a rubber blocki50b and hollow resilient body 50c,respectively, to comprise urging means for the lug supporting slides 44cand 44d.

Means are provided for engaging andmoving the :11; cleat members as aunit nd Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken a thlsmeans compnses plate cam member 54 having a plurality. of corners thatare slidably receivedin the channel shaped portions 36. The corners areprovided with straight edges 56 which are to be considered the highportion of the cam that will engage flat against the webs of portions 36when the members 26 are extended outwardly toward the peripheral edge ofplate 10. The cam 54 also in cludes straight sides 57 which areconsidered the low portions of the cam and engageable with the webs ofthe device and prevent rattling.

A cover 64 is provided for the base plate and the parts thereon. Thecover supports a plurality of spring lugs 66 that are yieldingly held inrecesses 68 in the bolts 60. Cover 64 is provided with arcuate slots 70to permit sliding movement of hand grips 72 that are fixed to the- :2cam member.

When the cam member is manually rotated by the hand grips to move theedges 56 between adjacent cleat members, the springs 24 in tubes 18 willurge plungers 7.6 fixed to the cleat members radially inwardly toposition "the lugs 46 radially inwardly of the circumference C of thewheel in a manner similar to that of the previously describedembodiment.

Reference is now made to Figures 5 and 6 for an illustration of theinvention in modified form. In this embodiment, the base plate 10a againsupports an attaching sleeve 12a having an inturned flange 14a.Circumferentially spaced pairs of guide sleeves 18a are secured to theouter face of the plate 10:: and slidably receive the leg portions 74 ofU-shaped cleat members 76. The ends of the leg portions 74 are bentslightly to form lugs 78.

Tubes 80 are fixed to the sleeves 18a, in any suitable manner, and housecoil springs 82 that engage the web portions 75 of the cleat members 76t0 yieldingly urge the lugs 78 radially inwardly of the peripheral edge83 of the base plate 100:.

A cam member 54a is rotatably mounted on the base plate, like the plate10, and its straight corner edges or high cam portions 56 will rideagainst the Web portions 75 of the cleat members 76 to extend the lugs78 outwardly from the circumference of the wheel in a manner similar tothat of the previously described embodiments.

Base plate 10a is provided with a cover 64a carrying resilient lugs 66athat are yieldingly retained in recesses 68a in the mounting bolts 60aof the cam member. Hand grips 72a are fixed to the cam member and areslidably received in arcuate slots in the cover.

Attention is next directed to Figures 10 and 11 wherein there isdisclosed a further form of the invention. The base plate 10b supportsat its center an attaching sleeve 12!) having an 'inturned flange 14b.Circumferentially spaced radially disposed guide tubes 84 are removablysecured to the plate 10b, in any suitable manner, along with springholding sockets 86.

The inturned ends 88 of U-shaped cleat members 90 removably hold cleatelements of the type shown in Figures 4, 7, 8 or 9. The web portions ofthe cleat members 90 guide pins 92 that are slidably received in thetubes 84. Springs 94 in the sockets 86 engage the web portions 91 of themembers 90 to urge the lugs of the cleat members radially inwardly ofthe peripheral edge of the plate 10b when the cam is rotated in acounterclockwise direction.

. A rotatable cam member 54b is secured to the base plate by bolts 60breceived in slots 58b in the cam member. A cover 64b is releasablysecured to the bolts 60b and is provided with arcuate slots receivingthe hand grips 72b for the cam member.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a U-shaped cleat member 90:: that maybe employed in the invention. The ends of the member 90a are reduced toform attaching tongues 96 that are removably secured to the bifurcatedends 98 of angulated lugs 100 by fasteners 102.

Substantially cross shaped lugs 104 may replace the lugs 100 and thelugs 104 are provided with bifurcated shanks 106 for attachment to thetongues 96.

1 In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new 1. A tractionattachment for a vehicle wheel comprising a base plate having aperipheral edge, said plate being attachable to a vehicle wheel, aplurality of circumferentially spaced cleat holding members slidablycarried by the plate, each of said members having a channel shapedportion, a cam member rotatably supported on the plate slidably engagingthe channel shaped portions for sliding the cleat holding membersoutwardly toward the peripheral edge of the plate, and a pair of cleatelements supported by each of the members.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cleat elements includesliding lugs carried by the members, and cushioning means for the lugsrestricting inward movement of the lugs relative to the peripheral edgeof said plate.

. 3. A traction attachment for a vehicle wheel comprising a base platehaving a peripheral edge, said plate being attachable to a vehiclewheel, a plurality of circumferentially spaced cleat holding membersslidably carried by the plate, each of said members having a channelshaped portion, a cam member rotatably supported on the plate slidablyengaging the channel shaped portions for sliding the members outwardlytoward the peripheral edge of the plate, spring means engaging andurging the members inwardly from the peripheral edge of said plate, andspring pressed cleat elements carried by the members. I 4. Thecombination of claim 3 wherein each of said cleat elements includes apair of threadedly connected cap members one of which is provided withan opening, a slide in each of the cap members and a lug attached to theslide and received in the opening. I

5. An anti-skid attachment for a vehicle wheel comprising a mountingplate, said plate being attachable to a vehicle wheel, a plurality ofcleats slidably carried by the base and movable outwardly from theperipheral edge of the plate, means yieldingly urging the cleatsinwardly of the peripheral edge of the plate, and a cam member ratatablymounted on the plate for simultaneously engaging and moving the cleatsoutwardly of the peripheral edge of the plate, said cleat members eachcomprising a U-shaped holding portion, and lugs detachably secured tothe legs of the holding portions. 6. A traction attachment for a vehiclewheel comprising a base plate having a peripheral edge, said plate beingattachable to .a vehicle wheel, a plurality of circumferentially spacedcleat holding members slidably carried by the plate, each of saidmembers having a channel shaped portion, a cam member rotatablysupported on the plate slidably engaging the channel shaped portions forsliding the members outwardly toward the peripheral edge of the plate,spring means engaging and yieldingly urging the members inwardly of theperipheral edge of the plate, sliding lugs carried by the members, andmeans urging the lugs outwardly from the peripheral edge of said plate.7

7. The combination of claim 6-wherein said lug urging means comprises aspring.

8. The combination .of claim 6 wherein said lug urging means comprisesrubber block.

9. The combination of claim 6 wherein said lug urging means comprises ahollow resilient body.

10. The combination of claim 6 wherein said lug urging means comprises afluid pressure means.

11. The combination of claim 5 wherein said lugs each comprises a pairof cross shaped rigid elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,193,855 Wright Aug. 8, 1916 1,435,863 Lantz Nov. 14, 1922 1,813,391Ellsworth July 7, 1931 1,830,534. Erwin Nov. 3, 1931 2,241,849 Fuchs May13, 1941 2,559,721 Kruse July 10, 1951

